Hatty and Marcus | Page 4

a particular little soul, and the way Meg took hold of the new
blue satin ribbons of her leghorn flat, hurt her as much as if Meg had
given her one of the twisting little pinches she knew so well how to

inflict. Hatty was going to twitch away, but instead of the twitch came
a bright blush on her cheek, that she should have so soon been near
being out of patience, when again among the little ones at home. As a
kind of punishment to herself, she let Meg lay aside her bonnet, and
suffered Harry to run off with her pretty travelling bag, without saying
a word.
"Where's Mother?" asked Hatty, eagerly, passing along the hall, and
going directly up stairs.
"Here, here, my child," said the mother, as she met her on the landing,
and folded her affectionately in her arms.
Very pleasant it was to Hatty to receive that mother's tender kiss, but
dearer still were the words which were, breathed in her ear: "God bless
you, my darling, you are dearer to me than ever."
Hatty understood her mother's earnest words, and she could have
echoed them, "you are dearer to me than ever." That was exactly what
she felt. The mother who had talked to her of the blessed Jesus, and
taught her His words and ways, was dearer than ever, now that she had
resolved to follow Him.
In silence Hatty and her mother ascended the short flight of stairs that
led to the upper hall; then the little girl asked eagerly--"But where is the
baby? I have not seen him yet--or Aunt Barbara, either."
"So you did think of Aunt Barbara. I didn't know but you had forgotten
me entirely, you were so taken up with your grandma," said the old
lady, coming slowly out of the nursery.
"No, indeed, I had not forgotten you," said Hatty, and she kissed her
affectionately.
Hatty had not forgotten Aunt Barbara; she had had painful reasons for
remembering her. The unfortunate, disrespectful words she had spoken
to the old lady, had risen up to her again and again, and made her pray
with double earnestness to be forgiven for Jesus' sake.

Aunt Barbara led the way to the nursery, and there on the bed lay the
baby, the pet of the house.
"O what a dear, tiny little creature!" said Hatty, bending over it, with a
look half wonder and half affection. "I never saw such a little baby
before; that is, I don't remember Harry very well, when he was so
young," she added, for Hatty was trying to be truthful, even about
trifles.
"Harry was twice as big at the same age," said Aunt Barbara. "He
always was a bouncer."
Hatty stooped down to kiss the wee mouth of the sleeping baby, but
Aunt Barbara pushed her roughly back, and said impatiently: "Don't,
child! don't, you'll wake him."
"Mamma does not say I mustn't!" sprang to Hatty's lips, for she was
sadly quick-tempered, but again a blush of shame took the place of
hasty words.
"He will wake soon," said Mrs. Lee, quickly but quietly, "and then,
Hatty, you can hold him in your arms; he is not much heavier than your
dolly, Susan."
"Thank you, Mother. I should like that," said Hatty; she felt that her
mother had wished to speak quickly to keep her from wrong words, and
she was grateful for the kindness that would help her to do right.
"Now, Hatty, you had better come to your room, and take off your
things."
"To our room," said Meg, with a saucy, mischievous look.
Hatty turned towards her mother with a sudden glance of inquiry.
"Yes," said Mrs. Lee, "you are to have Meg for a room-mate." Hatty's
face flushed, and Mrs. Lee hastened to add, "I thought you would like
to help me, and you can do so best by taking Meg with you, and having

a little charge over her."
Hatty looked very soberly, as she answered, "I should like to help you,
Mother."
Mrs. Lee opened the two lower drawers of the bureau, and said, "you
see I have put some of Meg's clothes here; when you need any more
you can come to me for them."
"But, Mother, where are all my presents, and my pretty things? That is
too bad! I have always kept them so nicely in those drawers!" said
Hatty, hastily.
Mrs. Lee did not speak for a moment; she opened a door leading into a
large lighted closet, and then said, "Here, my darling, you will have a
place for all you want to keep particularly nice; see, I have put your
presents in this drawer, and your books are there above, on the shelf. I
have put a little table here for your